Bath Conservatives challenge Dorchester Street bus gate decision

Opposition councillors have officially challenged plans to install a bus gate in Dorchester Street, in Bath.

The local Conservative group has opted to “call-in” the decision by Liberal Democrat-run Bath and North East Council to ban eastbound traffic in the stretch of road between the bus station and the railway station between 10am and 6pm.

This means the matter must go before the relevant policy development and scrutiny panel, which is made up of councillors from all parties, for a review and a recommendation on what action the cabinet should take.

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Councillor Brian Webber (Con, Abbey) said he did not think a bus gate was the solution to the city centre’s traffic problems.

He said: “There seems to be no clear logic to the Lib Dems’ plans for Dorchester Street.

“It will hardly become a pedestrian paradise, as walkers will still have to contend with all the buses, taxis and westbound traffic. We also have no idea by what criteria the council will deem it a success at the end of the 18 month trial.

“At the same time, the cabinet made a last minute decision to change the end time of the bus lane from 4pm to 6pm for no apparent reason, claiming 4pm in the published report to have been a typing error.”

This was backed up by Councillor Tim Warren (Con, Mendip), who added: “Going around randomly closing off roads will not solve Bath’s congestion problem, it simply pushes the traffic elsewhere.”

“In this case, closing Dorchester Street will result in a major increase in traffic using the A36 and North Parade, especially at peak times.”

Mr Warren said the decision had been poorly thought-through and the council needed to go back to the drawing board.

There is no date yet set for the call-in hearing, although council rules state it must take place within 14 days of the call-in being submitted.

strange tho local elections just around the corner and the conservatives decide now to make the point mmmmm very strange get the bath people to vote for them and six months down the line they will do the very same thing wake up people its a conservative stunt

If they can't even spot a "typing error" what chance is there?
Why wasn't the submission challenged before it was agreed?
What are the procedures for a submission like this from start to end and who is involved in the processes?
I am glad though that someone is finally waking up to Roger's cycle paradise.